Mayaguana Gets Resident Social Worker

Mayaguana received its very own resident Social Worker following the recent arrival of Ms. Nakita Smith who will oversee the Department’s on-the-ground operations.

Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Sharon Griffin said the appointment of Ms. Smith (who holds both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Social Work), fulfills a commitment to the residents in the Fall of 2016.

Mrs. Griffin applauded the work of Ms. Jesse Barr and Ms. Linda Charlton in executing the Department of Social Services’ mandate in Mayaguana prior to Ms. Smith’s arrival. Ms. Barr and Ms. Charlton are expected to continue to work closely with Ms. Smith.

Minister Griffin said Ms. Smith’s background in various aspects of Social Work will be beneficial to the communities of Abraham’s Bay, Betsy Bay and Pirates Well.

“Let me first commend the work of the team that held down the fort prior to Ms. Smith’s arrival for the outstanding work they did,” Mrs. Griffin said. “They did an awesome job (but) we wanted to send someone down to provide them with some relief.”

The appointment of a resident Social Worker was one of a number of commitments Mrs. Griffin made to the residents of Mayaguana during her first official trip to the island in September 2016.

The others were to ensure that qualified recipients of the Department of Social Services’ Food Assistance Programme would be in possession of Visa Pre-Paid Cards, and a further commitment to expand the lunch programme. Both have been met.

Mrs. Griffin told residents that the Ministry and the Department have been given a mandate by the Government of The Bahamas to ensure that Bahamians have access to social assistance regardless of where they live.

Mrs. Griffin was accompanied by Mellany Zonicle, Director, Department of Social Services; Cherely Kelly, Assistant Director, Community Support Services Division, Department of Social Services, and Tianya Johnson, Manager, Bank of The Bahamas’ Card Services.

UB holds Charter Celebration Ceremony in Grand Bahama

May 1, 2017

Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr. the Hon. Michael Darville, congratulated the government and staff of the University of The Bahamas Northern Campus during their Charter Celebration Ceremony and Plaque Unveiling